Nigerian Folktales- Tommy Kline
  • Folk tales are made up stories that are made to amuse its listeners.
  • These tall tales usually take place in a fictional place and time.
  • Characters in folktales consist of talking animals, fairies, sorcerers, dragons and even everyday humans.
  • These stories are passed down from generation to generation so the story changes over time.
  • There is always a different version because people change it as they tell it.
  • Used to explain unknown things
  • Also used to teach young children lessons.


Nigerian topics-
  • Friendship
  • Greed
  • Lying
  • Trickery
  • Jealousy
  • Wisdom
  • Obedience
  • Moral

- Many Nigerian folktales are based off of the Hausa, which was the largest ethnic groups of Northern Nigeria.


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Hausa are represented by Yellow.


These Folktales were important to Nigeria because they were a way of keeping their ancestors alive through their stories. It was also part of their tradition to pass these stories on. These stories also were able to teach young children how to behave and treat their parents.


One of the most well known Nigerian folktales was Master Man. It's about the Hausa and how one of their men was able to transform their lives with his super powers. This man was known as the Master Man. This story was used to explain the early origins of the Huasa and as a good form of entertainment.
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Other Important African Folktales are Anansi the Spider which is all about learning lessons.

Also Why the Sky is so Far Away, which explains about the starts, moon and sun.
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